The Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer, composer, record producer and entrepreneur will take the stage with a new show, accompanied by some of jazzs rising and established female artists.

Lead by Carrington, the Mosaic Project originated as a female tribute to jazz, collaborating with several acclaimed artists such as Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nona Hendryx, Cassandra Wilson and Esperanza Spalding.

The Potsdam line-up will include Carrington on drums, Nona Hendryx and Lizz Wright on vocals, Helen Sung on piano, Grace Kelly on soprano and alto saxophone, Erena Terakubo on alto sax, Nir Felder on guitar and Tamir Shmerling on bass. A true collaboration, this project focuses on bringing cross-cultural, cross-genre and cross-generational perspectives to existing female jazz legends and their music.

Now there are so many talented women whom Ive been playing with anyway – not just because theyre women, but because I love the way they play, Carrington said. So it has become easier to do a special project that celebrates the artistry and the musicality of these women.

In this project, Carrington brings new relevance to female jazz performers by using the differences in each performers sound, elevating the audiences musical experience.

Of Mosaic, Carrington said: As with the mosaic art technique, the idea was for this project to vibrantly connect colorful pieces together to create something integral, using thoroughly composed song forms, some abstract improvising, and also the human voice — creating sharp shapes, with blurred edges.

The result is a memorable and sensational musical experience unlike any other.

Beginning in the late 1980s, Carrington gained initial fame and recognition as the house drummer on the late night TV program, The Arsenio Hall Show. She continued into the 1990s to another late-night show, VIBE. Additionally, she is well known for her partnership in Herbert-Carrington Media (HCM), which was founded in 2007. Since the beginning of her career, Carrington has recorded six full albums of original works, including her Grammy-nominated debut CD, Real Life Story, in 1989.

Tickets to this event range from $24 to $40 for adults, with additional discounts for seniors and students. All tickets may be purchased at the CPS Box Office on the SUNY Potsdam campus, or at Northern Music and Video in downtown Potsdam. Tickets may also be purchased by calling (315) 267-2277 or by visiting www.cpspotsdam.org.

This concert is a Share A Story event, a season-long book drive to benefit area school libraries. Community members are encouraged to donate a new or gently used copy of their favorite book. Donations will be accepted at the event, as well as during normal box office hours. All donations accepted will enter patrons into a drawing to win a pair of season tickets to both the 2013-2014 Guest Artist Series and Meet the Arts Series.

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